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Lisbon, Portugal - USC's Angela Williams ran a U.S. collegiate record time of 7.09 to win the silver medal in the 60 meter dash while competing for the U.S. at the World Indoor Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sunday (Mar. 11).

Williams' time broke the American collegiate record of 7.14 set by Carlette Guidry of Texas in 1991 and is also the fourth-fastest time in the world and fastest time by an American in 2001.

Williams opted to bypass the NCAA Championships and a nearly certain NCAA title this weekend to compete in Lisbon - a difficult decision that paid off.

Said Williams: 'At first, I didn't want to come - I thought, 'I'm not sure I'm ready for those women.' But our other teammates really supported me. (At the U.S. Championships in Atlanta) I was really homesick, but people let me know that this is just part of the game. And this is where I want to be.'

Both Gaines and Williams were thrilled with their performances. The two made an inspiring pair, with Williams a 21-year-old from Ontario, Calif., and Gaines a 30-year-old veteran of two Olympic Games.

'I said to Angela, 'Go out there and get something,' Gaines said. 'We're here and we're teammates.'

'She pumped me up with those words,' Williams said. 'What a day! ... When we had a team meeting, I really listened to her (Gaines). And today she said, 'Every round, you've got to go. It may take a PR every round, but you've got to do it.''

Williams will be going for an unprecedented third consecutive NCAA 100 meter outdoor title later this spring.